Ranking the 25 Best Moves of the 2024 NFL Offseason

Each offseason brings a flurry of activity around the NFL as teams sign free agents and acquire players in trades or the draft.

So far in 2024, the biggest moves have centered on a couple of quarterbacks. While the Pittsburgh Steelers revamped the position, the Atlanta Falcons made the biggest splash with Kirk Cousins.

But they are simply the start of what’s been a busy offseason.

While the order is subjective, the choices are based on a player’s contract, the acquiring team’s need and the overall fit. One important note: Re-signings and specific draft picks are not included.

25. Jets Capitalize on Cap Casualty

Even if Aaron Rodgers had stayed healthy in 2023, the New York Jets probably would’ve looked weak at receiver. They absolutely needed to bolster the position this offseason, and they pounced on Mike Williams after the Los Angeles Chargers released him for cap reasons. He’s recovering from an ACL injury but is a potential bargain at $10 million.

24. Commanders Begin the Build Around Biadasz

In advance of drafting Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick, the Washington Commanders gave the rookie quarterback a reliable veteran at center. Tyler Biadasz, who started for the Dallas Cowboys, followed now-Washington coach Dan Quinn from the NFC East rival. Biadasz will provide stability as the Commanders begin a new era.

23. Dolphins Sign OBJ for Cheap

Tyreek Hill is a superstar wideout, and Jaylen Waddle isn’t terribly far behind. The problem for the Miami Dolphins, though, is they lacked a dangerous third receiver. Given the team’s salary-cap crunch, picking up Odell Beckham Jr. for just $3 million was a shrewd move. If he’s simply a 500-yard target, that’s a considerable upgrade for Miami.

22. Titans Upgrade the Receiving Corps

Last year, the Tennessee Titans basically had DeAndre Hopkins and nobody else at receiver. Not a single wideout other than Hopkins averaged two catches per game. Tennessee used its plentiful cap space on the position, making a splash with Calvin Ridley and later adding Tyler Boyd. As always, signing a couple of recognizable names will not guarantee progress. Tennessee is still in a much better spot.

21. Panthers Deal for Diontae Johnson

Whether the Carolina Panthers overpaid for guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis is a fair conversation, even as upgrading the offensive line was a sensible choice. On the other hand, Diontae Johnson only cost Carolina a late-round pick swap and corner Donte Jackson. Johnson reeled in 51 passes for 717 yards and five touchdowns last season despite the Steelers’ offensive issues.

20. Packers’ Low-Risk Josh Jacobs Contract

Based solely on his four-year, $48 million pact, Josh Jacobs isn’t exactly a bargain for the Green Bay Packers. It’s a comparable rate to what Aaron Jones may have earned. The finer details, though, are much kinder to the team. The worst-case scenario is Green Bay could move on from Jacobs with limited cap impact after the season, and the best-case outlook is the Packers added a versatile All-Pro back.

19. Raiders Shell Out for Christian Wilkins

Under new coach Antonio Pierce, the Las Vegas Raiders are trending toward a defense-first identity. Christian Wilkins cost a pretty penny—well, several, with his nearly $85 million in guaranteed money—but immediately makes the defensive front a nightmare to contain. Wilkins’ presence on the interior is a valuable boost for star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby, as if he needs one anyway.

18. Niners Pivot to Leonard Floyd

At the 2023 trade deadline, the San Francisco 49ers took a reasonable swing on Chase Young. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out as hoped. To replace him opposite Nick Bosa, the Niners pulled in Leonard Floyd on a two-year contract worth a manageable $10 million per season. Floyd has collected nine-plus sacks in four straight years.

17. Jaguars Jump on Arik Armstead

Now, the Niners had a little bit of money available because they released Arik Armstead after he declined a pay cut. Their loss was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ gain. Armstead will bolster the middle of the D-line and, in theory, free Josh Allen and Travon Walker to do more damage off the edge.

16. Rams Steal Darious Williams

I promise this wasn’t intentional, but it sure is convenient. Jacksonville released Darious Williams for money-saving reasons, and he found a familiar landing spot on the Los Angeles Rams. Williams, who ceded just 6.2 yards per target last season (and 5.0 in 2022), signed a team-friendly three-year, $22.5 million pact to rejoin the Rams.

15. Jets Keep Swinging, Trade for Haason Reddick

Although the Jets should not wreck a half-decade of finances in pursuit of a Super Bowl, they definitely need to chase a ring in Aaron Rodgers’ final seasons. They watched Bryce Huff leave in free agency, so shipping a conditional third-round pick for Haason Reddick was a wise pivot. He’s produced in 11-plus sacks in four consecutive years.

14. Chiefs Bring in Marquise Brown

All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce clearly can carry a pass-catching corps. Simultaneously, the Kansas City Chiefs had underwhelming group of receivers after Rashee Rice in 2023. They snatched Marquise Brown for a modest $7 million in a high-upside move. Brown’s production dipped on bad Arizona Cardinals teams recently, but he was a 1,000-yard target for the Baltimore Ravens during the 2021 campaign.

13. Packers Add Xavier McKinney, Revamp Safety Unit

While a potential-filled, young offense aims to develop around Jordan Love, the Packers rebuilt the back end of the defense. They embraced a youth movement at safety that is focused on Xavier McKinney, who racked up 116 tackles last season and turns 26 in August. His four-year contract has a pricey $67 million sticker, yet only $23 million is guaranteed.

12. Lions Bolster CB Group with Carlton Davis

Sticking in the NFC North, the Detroit Lions enjoyed a breakout year in 2023. However, the defense ranked 31st with 7.8 yards allowed per pass attempt. Before selecting Terrion Arnold in the draft, the Lions traded for veteran Carlton Davis. He had a subpar 2023 but excelled in recent years. If he regains that previous form, Davis will be a major upgrade and well-worth the third-round selection dealt.

11. Texans Sign Danielle Hunter

Meanwhile, the Houston Texans are firmly in “go for it” mode, too. CJ Stroud’s outstanding debut has accelerated the team’s contention timeline, and his rookie contract helped the Texans make two splashy adds. On the defensive side, they attracted Danielle Hunter with a two-year, $49 million pact. He just registered 16.5 sacks in 2023 and is even a possible upgrade to Jon Greenard, who essentially replaced Hunter on the Minnesota Vikings.

10. Bengals Take Geno Stone from Ravens

Paying for a breakout year always carries risk, but the Cincinnati Bengals appear to have spent wisely on Geno Stone. He accepted a two-year, $14 million agreement after collecting 68 tackles and seven interceptions in 2023. Stone is a tremendous on-paper addition to a defense that yielded a league-worst 8.1 yards per pass attempt last season.

9. Steelers Join the Party, Add Patrick Queen

Not only must Baltimore replace Stone at safety, the Ravens lost linebacker Patrick Queen to the rival Steelers. Queen’s departure was not a surprise, given Baltimore’s investment in Roquan Smith. Nevertheless, the Steelers weakened an AFC North foe while locking in Queen for a very affordable $41 million over three seasons.

8. Giants Acquire, Extend Brian Burns

In a word: Oof. Carolina previously declined a pair of first-round picks for edge-rusher Brian Burns, who the Panthers ultimately sent to the New York Giants for a second- and a fifth-rounder. Context changed over time, sure, but that’s a brutal comparison. New York, on the other hand, padded a promising defensive line as it guaranteed him $87.5 million on a five-year contract.

7. Eagles Swipe Saquon Barkley from Giants

Both disappointingly and understandably, the Giants elected to not prioritize keeping Saquon Barkley. What stung more, however, is the running back found an ideal landing spot within the NFC East on the Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley consistently produced behind shaky offensive lines in New York, so his outlook in Philly is enticing.

6. Titans Trade for L’Jarius Sneed

As with Stone and the Bengals, the Titans are betting on L’Jarius Sneed sustaining a breakout year. But, again, the risk is worth the price. Tennessee sent a third-round pick to Kansas City for Sneed, who surrendered an absurd 4.8 yards per target with 78 tackles and 14 pass defenses in 2023. The franchise then signed the 27-year-old corner to a four-year contract with $55 million guaranteed.

5. Ravens Bring in Derrick Henry

In recent years, the Ravens have never surrounded Lamar Jackson with a big-name back. That will no longer be the case in 2024 after Baltimore signed Derrick Henry to a manageable two-year, $16 million contract. Henry is a punishing back who, on paper, is a terrific complement to Jackson’s dynamism as a runner.

4. Texans’ Savvy Deals with Stefon Diggs

This is exactly the kind of bold trade—a second-round pick for a star veteran—you execute when a quarterback is on a rookie deal. Even better, the Texans reworked Stefon Diggs’ contract to guarantee more money in 2024 but give themselves an immediate out, if necessary. Either he returns to All-Pro form and elevates an already-rising offense, or the Texans pick a new direction in 2025.

3. Bears Land Keenan Allen

Copy and paste the above section, basically. As the Chicago Bears prepared to draft Caleb Williams, they capitalized on the Chargers’ cap crunch and landed Keenan Allen for only a fourth-round pick. Throw in the first-round addition of Rome Odunze, and the Bears have placed Williams in a great situation with Allen, DJ Moore and Odunze.

2. Steelers Add Russell Wilson, Justin Fields

Mason Rudolph provided a memorable spark and helped the Steelers slide into the playoffs last season, but the team needed a new solution under center. Kenny Pickett didn’t develop as hoped, and Rudolph has been a career backup. Pittsburgh hardly could’ve added a more cost-effective QB pairing, only paying Russell Wilson the minimum after the Denver Broncos released him and sending a conditional pick to the Bears for Justin Fields.

1. Falcons Sign Kirk Cousins

Look, it might not work out. Kirk Cousins is entering his age-36 season and recovering from an Achilles injury. There is clear risk for the Atlanta Falcons in his four-year contract with $100 million in guaranteed money. You know what else is risky? Continuing to hope Desmond Ridder or Taylor Heinicke would suddenly be a high-end starter.